Nigerians in new abduction protest

May 16 - Dozens of Nigerians gather in the capital to keep up the pressure for action over the kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls. Paul Chapman reports.

▲ Hide Transcript

▶ View Transcript

The furore over the kidnapping of more than 200 Nigerian schoolgirls by Islamist militants isn't dying down.
Dozens of Nigerians gathered at this intersection in the capital, Abuja, to press home their demands for government action.
(SOUNDBITE)(English) PROTEST LEADER JIBRIN IBRAHIM SAYING:
"Why is it that 31 days after the abduction of these girls not much has been done to rescue them? We feel that this is totally unacceptable, we feel it has not been prioritised by our government."
The kidnappers, Boko Haram, have said they'd hand back the girls in exchange for the release of imprisoned militants.
The government's rejected the proposal but there are mixed views about that on the streets of Lagos.
(SOUNDBITE)(English) PATRICK, BUSINESSMAN, SAYING:
"I support the president's stand on that exchange. (It) doesn't make sense and no right-thinking president would want to exchange criminals for hostages."
(SOUNDBITE)(English) GODWIN UMAMA, ESTATE MANAGER, SAYING:
"Nobody negotiates with terrorists. If he should do so, that means a slap on the human rights action."
(SOUNDBITE)(English) CHIMA MOSES, LAGOS RESIDENT, SAYING:
"I will like Jonathan to swap the militants to the girls in order to save their lives because if you attack the militants they will use those girls as a human shield and they will lose most of them."
The U.S. , Britain, France and Israel have all offered help to track down the kidnappers.